Gasoline, groceries and the household budget: Where to cut?

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EUGENE, Ore.-- The balance between purchasing a gallon of milk and a gallon of gas is causing local families to take shopping to some new extremes.

Local families tell KVAL News that they are driving to supermarkets across town and even changing their diets to save money for a tank of gas.

"We do a lot more chicken instead of steak," said Carol Mayhugh, Junction City resident. "I make a lot of homemade soups and casseroles, and yeah, its changed a lot."

Mike Summers, Eugene residents, said he now travels across town to get to a grocery store that sells food for less.

"Obviously shopping here at Grocery Outlet you know looking for the best prices. They beat a lot of the stores around here. I look for the sales and go there," Summer said.

The rising price of food is just another item pinching the wallets of many families. Factors such as government subsidies, extreme drought and an increase in international and local demand are just a few things taking the blame for the spike in food prices.

With gas prices also rising, something in the family's budget has to give.

"Gas isn't really all that flexible cause you need to go to work, and you need to spend gas at some point," said Dawn Marie Woodward, Food for Lane County spokeswoman.

"Our supply is staying about the same meaning we've got as much coming in as we do going out. Our supply hasn't changed," she said said.

Woodward said families see gas as a flexible part of their budget, but in reality, without gas for the morning commute, there would be no budget at all. That leaves food as the only thing to cut back on.